Stephenson Inks Two More for 2017-2018
The signees keep rolling in for the Mesa Thunderbirds women's basketball team. Coach Kori Stephenson adds Ironwood High School's Emily Henderson and Horizon High School's Leah Goodman.
Leah Goodman, a 2016 graduate of Scottsdale's Horizon High School, who played the 2016-17 season at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has transferred back home and will be hitting the hardwood for the Mesa Lady Thunderbirds this coming season.
The feisty 5'2 scoring guard plays well beyond her diminutive stature and was named Horizon Girl's Basketball Player of the Year in the 2015-16 season, averaging 15.4 points per game and shooting nearly 40% from the three-point line. She also averaged 3.8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4.2 steals per game during her time with the Huskies. Goodman and her Horizon teammates advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 AIA Girls Basketball State Championships where they eventually fell to the Valley Vista Monsoon. Goodman was heavily recruited last season by the Mesa staff who are excited to be giving her another opportunity to become part of the Thunderbird family. Coach Kori Stephenson is excited by the work ethic, maturity, and commitment to competition that Leah brings and is looking for her to fit in nicely with next year's returners.
"Leah has an uncanny ability to turn games around quickly with her ability to score and shoot the ball but also can be counted on to play some hard-nosed defense. She's the type of kid who will compete, compete, compete because she does not want to be beat," Stephenson added.
We are looking forward to an exciting 2017-18 season with Leah as our seventh newly signed player, who we welcome with open arms into the T-Bird family!
Emily Henderson had an impressive prep career at Glendale's Ironwood High School where she led her team to a 21-6 record and a first round appearance in the 2017 AIA Basketball Girls State Championship. In addition, she averaged 19.3 points her senior season while pulling down 8.1 rebounds and dishing out 3.2 assists per game.
Her high school coach Jaime Carreon spoke highly of Emily's work ethic and leadership, all qualities prized by Mesa Coach Kori Stephenson's nationally recognized program. Stephenson is excited to add Emily to the Thunderbird family to strengthen a nationally tested core of returners and said, "Emily's abilities on the court and in the classroom, along with her determination to succeed at both, epitomize a true student-athlete. She is well-rounded and confident in herself and we are excited to watch her develop and improve as she gets faster and stronger."